Tag: RootsTech

It’s hard to believe that RootsTech 2019 was 3 weeks ago! I came back from an absolutely wonderful week to a pretty big assignment for the ProGen course I’m taking and have been working on that all month. It’s finally submitted now and time to do a short recap of what was a busy, fun, exhausting, but inspiring week!

This was my fifth RootsTech and the fourth that my friend Kandace and I have been at together. We meet in Salt Lake City each February to indulge in our love for genealogy and to catch up on each others’ lives. The theme for this year of Connect.Belong. seemed to fit so well with a friendship that’s been going strong for over 18 years now!

This year was my first as a RootsTech Ambassador and it was fantastic! Besides promoting RootsTech on all of our social media platforms, each ambassador was given a free registration to give away and my competition was won by John. John came all the way from The Netherlands to attend RootsTech! It was great to meet him in person.

John and I in front of the Family History Library

What fun to be part of this amazing group of RootsTech ambassadors!

Just a couple of the wonderful genealogists I got to meet in person!

RootsTech always comes through with interesting classes and inspiring, energetic keynote sessions. No exception this year! The keynote sessions are available to watch at RootsTech.org. So if you weren’t able to attend RootsTech 2019, or just want to watch them again, head over and relive the magic!

I was interviewed by RootsTech and given a few minutes to gush about why I love it so much and what keeps me coming back. A fun but kind of nerve wracking experience!

What a great experience this year’s RootsTech was! And now RootsTech is headed to London! I got the news while at RootsTech that I am one of the official RootsTech London Ambassadors which is really exciting! I’m so happy that friends and family in the U.K. will be able to experience the magic that is RootsTech! Early bird pricing is happening now for RootsTech London!

2020 will be RootsTech’s 10th anniversary year! Hope to see you there!

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RootsTech is truly listening to its fans and finding options for those who aren’t able to make it to the conference in person. This past week the brand new RootsTech Virtual Pass was announced! It provides access to 18 online recorded sessions from the conference, allowing you to watch from the comfort of your home. What could be better than learning something new…in your pajamas!

The RootsTech free live streaming sessions will also be available to those not headed to the conference. This includes the general sessions featuring keynote speakers such as Patricia Heaton, Saroo Brierley and Jake Shimabukuro. These sessions will be streamed live starting on Wednesday, February 27, at 9:30 a.m. MST from the RootsTech.org home page.

For those who have attended RootsTech before, we know that it is almost impossible to get to every event or session that you want to see. There are just so many great classes to learn from! That’s where the Virtual Pass comes in. You can add the pass to your existing registration and that way, add more content.

The Virtual Pass, and the free live streamed sessions are a win-win for those unable to attend RootsTech in person, and for those attending but who would like access to more content.

Quick tip: Did you know that you can access the recorded content from past RootsTech conferences (2015-2018)? What a great way to get a taste of RootsTech for those attending for the first time in 2019! Or just to relive what have been some truly memorable sessions and classes!

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Serving as a RootsTech 2019 Ambassador means that I had the opportunity to give away one complimentary 4-day pass to RootsTech 2019. This morning I hit the ‘find me a random winner’ button on Rafflecopter and the winner is …. John Boeren!

John is a professional genealogist, based in the Netherlands, and owner of Antecedentia. His research focus is the Netherlands although most of his clients are based in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. You can check out his site here.

Congratulations, John! Looking forward to seeing you at RootsTech 2019!

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RootsTech is always on the cutting edge of what’s new in genealogy. Look back at RootsTech 2018 and see the emphasis on DNA from Angie Bush’s presentation “You’ve Taken a DNA test, Now What?” to Diane Southard and Lisa Louise Cooke’s, “A DNA Match with No Tree? No Problem!”. DNA is a hot topic these days and RootsTech never fails to keep up by providing a rich variety of classes and labs focused on using DNA in our research.

RootsTech 2019 offers over 30 classes/labs on DNA!

I took a look at the 2019 conference schedule found here (it’s a tentative schedule so subject to change) and used the search box on the left of the page to only look for sessions or labs on DNA. There are over 30 different classes or labs on some aspect of DNA! That’s an incredible resource for anyone looking to learn more about how to use their DNA results. There are classes tailored to all levels of difficulty from beginners to advanced. There are classes on which DNA tests are available and which ones to use depending on your goals, classes on using third-party tools like GEDMatch and DNAPainter, classes and labs on techniques such as using your shared matches, visual phasing, chromosome mapping, and creating a DNA triangulation table. There are classes on analyzing Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA and classes dealing with endogamy. Whichever aspect of DNA you are interested in, there is likely a class or lab at RootsTech 2019 that will address that!

Why the emphasis on DNA?

On 28 October 2018, the Board for Certification of Genealogists came out with new standards regarding the use of DNA as another form of evidence in our research. More information can be found here. DNA results go hand in hand with other evidence in the forming of any conclusions we make. You may not be a professional genealogist or hold a credential but thorough researchers know that good, in-depth research means you look everywhere and you use everything that may help in providing an answer to your research question. DNA evidence can be part of that reasonably exhaustive search.

RootsTech 2019 will be a great way to gain more education on exactly when and how to use DNA, in conjunction with documentary evidence, to answer that stubborn research question you may have.

*Don’t forget to visit the Expo Hall in between all your DNA classes to take advantage of the special prices on DNA kits. Every year that I’ve attended RootsTech (this will be my 5th year!) there have been great specials on DNA kits, I expect 2019 will be the same.

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Serving as a RootsTech 2019 Ambassador means that I have ONE complimentary 4-day pass to RootsTech 2019 to give away! Never been to RootsTech? Check out my Top Five Reasons to attend. More information on RootsTech can be found here. I hope you’ll join me and thousands of other genealogists and family history enthusiasts in Salt Lake City, Utah, from Feb 27 – March 2, 2019. The pass is valued at $299!

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RootsTech registration opens tomorrow, on 20 September 2018, and a tentative schedule has just gone up. It’s subject to change but take a look and see the incredible variety of classes that will be offered!

2019 will be my 5th year attending RootsTech and my first year as a RootsTech Ambassador. I’m excited to see what’s in store. A few weeks ago, RootsTech announced that they would be expanding to London in 2019! What an incredible opportunity for those who live in the UK and Europe to experience RootsTech for themselves. You can find more information here.

Have you attended RootsTech? Thinking about going in 2019? Here are my Top 5 reasons to attend RootsTech:

1. Making connections. RootsTech 2019’s theme is “Connect. Belong.” There is nothing more exhilarating than being in a place with thousands of other people who share your passion for genealogy, and feeling like you are where you belong. But even more than that, RootsTech brings together family and friends…those you know, and those you discover. For the last three years, RootsTech has been the meeting place for myself and my good friend, Kandace. We met about 18 years ago in Colorado as new moms with baby boys. Our families grew and we moved to different states but stayed in touch. In 2016, I invited Kandace to attend RootsTech with me and a tradition was born. Every year since we have met in Salt Lake City to attend RootsTech together. Connecting is what RootsTech does so well.

2. With over 300 classes to pick from, you will find one that suits you perfectly. From beginners to those who are advanced researchers, RootsTech offers a great variety of classes. Challenge yourself to learn something new.

3. The Expo Hall. Hundreds of vendors, offering just about everything you can think of to do with genealogy. Be sure to allow yourself a good chunk of time to visit the Expo Hall. There is so much to see, so many vendors to talk to, presentations to attend and swag to collect. It’s one of my favorite things about RootsTech!

4. Keynote Speakers. Be inspired by interesting and engaging keynote speakers. Two of my favorite speakers from 2018 were Scott Hamilton and Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. I look forward to hearing who the speakers will be for 2019!

5. Proximity to the Family History Library. RootsTech takes place at the Salt Palace Convention Center, only a block from the Family History Library. Spend some quality research time here among the thousands of records and books. Each year I fly into Salt Lake City a day or two before RootsTech starts so that I can work in the Library.

I hope you’ll join me at RootsTech 2019! Registration for RootsTech 2019 opens tomorrow, 20 September 2018. Register early to take advantage of early bird pricing! Look out for the free RootsTech pass I’ll be giving away on my blog.

And for more information on everything RootsTech, check out the Road to RootsTech 2019 here.

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RootsTech 2018 is 19 days away! Are you ready? This will be my 4th time attending and over the years I’ve learned a few things about organizing myself for each day’s classes and for research time in the Family History Library.

How I organize for RootsTech’s incredible line up of classes

First thing to do is to download the RootsTech mobile app. It’s available from the App Store and the Google Play Store. Using the app you are able to create your personalized schedule for each day. As you read through each of the class descriptions you can ‘star’ them, which moves them to your daily schedule (My Schedule on the app). I always pick my top choice class and a back up class for each hour. I also note when lunch is and when the Expo Hall will be open. Once you have finished selecting classes for each day, tap the gear icon on the upper right-hand side of the screen and slide down to a reddish box which says ‘Email My Show Summary’. You can email your class schedule to yourself or share it with a friend attending with you.

What about syllabus material for each class?

Handouts are only available on the app but can be downloaded or emailed to yourself. To do this, tap on My Schedule (which you have already created) and tap on your first selected class. Move down the page that shows information on that class until you come to the very bottom where it says ‘Resources’. Under that is ‘Handouts’. Tap on ‘Handouts’ and if the class has one, it will ask you if you would like to Take Notes on the Handout, Download Handout or Email Handout. I prefer to email the handout to myself. You will receive an email with a PDF of that classes’ handout. I print that out and write the location and time of the class in the upper right-hand corner.

I then place them in day and time order in my binder. This way I don’t have to keep referring to my phone to see what’s next on my schedule. I can look at my binder and it’s all organized there. I use the back of the handouts to make any notes during that class. Everyone has a different system to keep themselves organized. I’ve used this one all the years I’ve attended RootsTech and it’s worked well. My binder also has a place for pens and pencils, flash drives, business cards and more paper. I like having it all in one place.

How I organize for research at the world-famous Family History Library

Going to RootsTech means making time for research at the Family History Library. Over the years I’ve worked out a system that keeps me on track and organized. My biggest tip for researching here is to plan ahead! There are lots of BSO’s (those distracting Bright Shiny Objects) hiding in the library and it’s easy to get sidetracked. It’s not always a bad thing to be lured in by a BSO, actually it can be kind of fun! But when you’re fitting in time between RootsTech classes or at the end of a busy and mentally exhausting day, you want to try to stay on track.

As I research I use the Research Log report on my desktop family history software to keep track of the films or books that I need to look at when I am next at the Family History Library and which are not available online. Use FamilySearch.org to find the correct film or book and check whether it has been digitized or not. If not, I add that information to a spreadsheet I have set up with columns as shown below.

I try to be very clear about the information I am looking for. I create these Research Logs as I work on projects and it can sometimes be months since I marked that I needed to look at a specific film for information. I don’t want to spend time having to pull up my family history software program and look at why I wanted that information. Each item is numbered in the far-left hand column. That number is what I use in my handwritten notes as a reference for any information I find or do not find. Of course, I also add the film or book number again on the notes I am making in the library, as well as any notes on whether I photocopied, downloaded or transcribed the image. I never transfer any information to my family history software until I am back home and able to carefully evaluate it first. Some may prefer to use a preprinted Research Log template to write down what you find in the Library but those never seem to have enough space for me to write in.

RootsTech is always a whirlwind of great education and fun socializing. Get the most out of your RootsTech trip by getting and staying organized!